Education: Recent Headlines

Tuition to rise at Vermont State Colleges

VCF Staff — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 21:21:14 +0000

Vermont Public Radio reports that according to Robert Clarke, chancellor of the Vermont State Colleges, "The Vermont State Colleges will need to raise tuition in the coming budget year." Clarke commented that the state has "chronically underfunded the college system" and "with the financial crisis creating an even tighter state budget, the colleges are left with few options." He concluded that " the amount of the increase hasn't been determined, and won't be voted on until April." He also said that "the state college system began cost-cutting measures years ago, and that effort will continue."

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Nine Vermont college presidents want drinking debate

VCF Staff — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 18:01:08 +0000

Vermont Public Radio reports that "ten leading Vermont college educators are among scores of their colleagues from across the country calling for a debate about the merits of the minimum drinking age of 21." Educators who have signed onto the Amethyst Initiative, which was developed by former Middlebury College President John McCardell, maintain that the 21-year-old minimum drinking age is not working because more young people are drinking irresponsibly. College of St. Joseph President Frank Miglorie commented that "once people reach 18 years of age they are given full citizenship, except the right to drink alcohol." Since July 2008, 134 college presidents from around the country have signed the initiative."

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Burlington schools hire director of diversity

VCF Staff — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 14:52:15 +0000

The Burlington Free Press reports that the Burlington School District has hired Daniello "Dan" Balon, "a University of Maryland administrator to be director of diversity and equity." Balon will "start his new job Nov. 10 and help oversee district programs and policies that relate to race, religion, ethnicity and fairness. He will assist in hiring and recruiting and oversee the district's English Language Learners program, which provides services to about 12 percent of Burlington's approximately 3,600 students." Notably, "about 26 percent of Burlington school students are minorities -- making the city much more racially diverse than the state as a whole, whose population is about 96 percent white. In the face of criticism that the school district has not done enough to hire minorities, particularly U.S.-born black teachers, the Burlington School Board this fall passed a resolution re-stating its commitment to diversity in hiring and education."

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College prices up again as economy falters

VCF Staff — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 14:37:47 +0000

The Burlington Free Press reports the College Board's new report Trends in College Pricing has found that "Vermont tops the nation [for] the average cost of attending a four-year public college. " The report "lists Vermont's average in-state tuition and fees for such schools at $11,341 - up 8.1 percent from the previous year. Vermont is the only state where this average exceeds $11,000. Next highest is New Jersey, at $10,739." In addition, "Vermont had the highest average tuition and fees for two-year public colleges -$5,830, up 6 percent. New Hampshire was next, at $5,609. The lowest community college prices are in California: $634."

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Winooski School program to prevent bullying

VCF Staff — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 14:37:23 +0000

The Burlington Free Press reports that the the Winooski School District has implemented the Olweus Bullying Prevention Programto "to change the norms around bullying behavior and to restructure the school setting so bullying is less likely to occur." The program is being used at the elementary, middle and high school levels.

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Hinsdale third-grade teacher honored

VCF Staff — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 15:59:53 +0000

The Brattleboro Reformer reports that Hinsdale Elementary School third grade teacher Anne King was awarded the Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year for 2008-2009. King was nominated by community members and received a $100 personal spending card and $1,000 for the school, which she donated entirely to the local PTA playground fundraising efforts.

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Crisis puts student loans in jeopardy

VCF Staff — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 14:00:12 +0000

The Brattleboro Reformer reports that "federal student loans have traditionally been one of the most reliable sources of funding for families trying to pay for college. And while local and state loan administrators say they are confident that the federal money will be available for the upcoming loan application season, the nation's ongoing economic crisis is raising questions about the federal money and how the faltering economy will affect families who are trying to pay for college."

Vermont Student Assistance Corporation
"The Vermont Student Assistance Corp., or VSAC, is a public nonprofit agency that provides loans, grants and information for Vermonters attending college. Traditionally, VSAC has not relied on federal money to back up its loans, but with so many questions about the future of the economy unanswered, VSAC Vice President Scott Giles said the organization is now considering applying for the federal backing." Earlier this year when the auction-rate system collapsed, VSAC and about 70 other student loan providers across the country had to "scramble to find a new source of income." VSAC was able to negotiate a $230 million deal with KeyBank, and thus will be able to issue loans during the 2008-2009 school year. "But that deal is set to expire soon, and "Giles, and other VSAC officers, are seeking to partner with a private bank or lender again." Giles added that "VSAC has filed papers with the federal government in case a private deal can not be worked out." In the end, he said, the decision will "be based on what is best for Vermont students."

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S'bury considers cutting bus runs

VCF Staff — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 13:16:18 +0000

The Bennington Banner reports that the town of Shaftsbury is considering whether or notthe school's busing service should continue to exist in its current form.Officials saidthe discussion was prompted by an expiring contract and budget considerations.According to Shaftsbury Elementary Principal James Harwood, "The [school's] budget will be a problem in the upcoming year, and all potential expense cuts" are being examined.Notably, the school currently spends about $107,000 on transportation and that figure will increase by about 30% under a new contract. Board Chairwoman Elizabeth Benedict also commented that fewer children are riding the bus than expected. Options for change include "eliminating the service altogether, only having bus service in the afternoons, using smaller buses, and running two buses instead of the typical three."

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UVM investment fund tied up in financial crisis

VCF Staff — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 19:19:18 +0000

Vermont Public Radio reports that $79 million of the University of Vermont's (UVM) cash deposits were frozen this week in the wake of the national financial crisis. "UVM says it's gotten access to some of its money, but it could be two years before it's all returned." UVM's Finance vice president Richard Cate explained, "`We're paying the bills. This is really a short-term problem in that we have to deal with this over the course of the next three months and we're building a plan to do just that. We're going to probably secure a line of credit to have a backup plan as we go through this. And by late December tuition revenues will start coming in and we'll be out of this cycle and we'll be fine."

Notably, "UVM has no direct relationship with Wachovia, the huge North Carolina-based bank that ran into problems this week. But because of the interrelationships of financial institutions, that didn't matter." Indeed, "like any business, the University has a reserve of cash on hand so it can pay its bills and make payroll." The University places that money "into the Common Fund for Short Term Investment - what amounts to a super savings account for colleges and other nonprofits... but the trustee of the fund is Wachovia. So as [Wachovia's] future unraveled, it froze billions in the fund."

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Educators say science results aren’t cause for concern

VCF Staff — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 18:53:14 +0000

Vermont Public Radio reports that "educators say the disappointing results from this year's statewide science assessments aren't necessarily cause for worry. The tests were given for the first time in May to students in fourth, eighth and eleventh grades. Fewer than half the fourth graders tested as proficient or better" and "only 26 percent of eighth graders and 25 percent of eleventh graders met the state's grade level expectations for science."

Pat Fitzsimmons, who works in the assessment division of the Vermont Department of Education, explained, "The science tests are based on relatively new curriculum that some schools haven't yet fully adopted." She added, "If we still get these results in three years I would be concerned. But I really have confidence. We have many amazing science teachers in Vermont and I really have confidence that they will use the data to recognize their strengths as well as build on those areas that need improvement"

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